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Chapter 17
~King Ash’s POV~
I felt it the mont Azriel crossed the threshold of the palace.
That subtle shift in the air. The kind that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with the presence of a man who had always known how to smile while calculating where to strike.
"Brother," I greeted him, keeping my voice even.
"It’s good to see you, Your Majesty," Azriel replied, warmth coating his words just enough to sound sincere.
I didn’t return the sentint, and he noticed, like always.
His gaze wandered the hall like a man admiring old mories, but I knew better. Azriel never looked without asuring. Distances. Guards. Weak points. He’d never stopped being a strategist.
Had I not known the triplet better and slled Davion’s scent on them, I’d have said Xavier was his son. Where Xavier was careful, Azriel was cunning in ways that put kings to sha.
"So," he said casually, folding his hands behind his back, "I hear you’ve been keeping secrets."
My spine stiffened. There it was. No use pretending.
"Secrets? If by secrets you an my daughter..."
"Yes," he said, eyes sharpening with interest. "My niece, Jade."
The way he said her na scraped against sothing raw inside .
"Then I doubt we can hardly call that a secret, considering you were invited to the very dinner I was to present her to the family at."
"I wouldn’t call dining with your beta, gamma, and a few loyal dogs ’family.’"
"Watch your tone, Azriel. You may not consider them family, but I do."
He arched a brow, his mouth parting open, releasing a surprise gasp. "I wonder what Queen Arista would think if she were here. First you..."
I did not let Azriel finish before letting off my wolf’s suppressing aura. "Watch it, brother!"
He rolled his eyes at as though my anger was but a tantrum. "I’d like to et my niece."
The silence stretched. The last ti in history when an uncle beca close to his niece like this, it only ended in the untily death of that said niece.
Even though my brother wasn’t known to hurt family, I just couldn’t trust him completely. "She’s not here," I said at last. "She’s returned to school."
His brows lifted just slightly. Then he laughed.
"School," he repeated. "You finally find your lost child, the Lycan King’s daughter, and you send her back to live among strangers? Commoners?"
"She needs normalcy," I replied, though even to my own ears, the word felt thin.
"Normalcy," Azriel echoed, tasting it like a flaw in tal. "That’s a luxury royals rarely survive."
I didn’t miss the implication.
"She’s used to that life. I will not take it from her just so she can please the royal court."
He stepped closer, voice lowering. "She must be extraordinary. To live so long without knowing who she is. To carry our blood and remain untouched by it."
I t his gaze. What did he an by remain untouched?
"She’s been through enough."
Azriel’s lips curved faintly. "I would protect her, Ash."
The words were smooth. Too smooth, like a failed ruler’s promise to his people.
Would he? Or would he use her the way Azriel had always used pieces on a board—cherished only as long as they remained useful?
"You didn’t co all this way just to talk about Jade," I stated, changing the subject. "What do you want?"
A flicker of approval crossed his face. "Still sharp, big brother." He turned toward the window, staring out at the distant borders. "Rumours concern . Movents. Whispers, nothing much. But soon, people would try to know who she really is. As for now, the dia does not have her picture, and the right target isn’t on her back."
My brows knitted. "The right target?"
Azriel shrugged. "Who knows? Rogues, maybe... or even their king."
"They’re secure," I answered imdiately.
"Secure things crack under pressure," he murmured. "Especially when sothing valuable sits at their centre."
My jaw tightened. "I won’t let anyone touch her," I said, aning it with everything in . "She also has the Triplets by her side, protecting her."
He turned back, studying , but the look in his eyes was like that of a warrior studying his king guarding sothing precious.
Azriel’s curiosity was never harmless. And Jade was no longer invisible.
"I’ll wait, then," Azriel said lightly. "Family reunions are best when everyone is ready. Especially this royal reunion."
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~Jade’s POV~
The next morning felt lighter. Not perfect, or healed, but lighter in a way I hadn’t expected.
My body still ached from yesterday’s emotional storm, yet my mind felt clearer as I dressed for school. A simple uniform, my hair let down in loose curls neatly, my bag slung over my shoulder, my shoes and socks polished and neat... I was ready.
I had just locked the front door after bidding Mum goodbye when a car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the house.
My steps slowed as the window slid down.
My breath hitched. I hadn’t expected to see the person in there. Xade sat behind the wheel, one arm resting casually against the door, his sharp eyes already on like he’d been waiting longer than necessary.
"You’ll be late if you keep standing there, little rabbit," he drawled. "Hop in."
My heart thudded. I hesitated, glancing toward my mother’s window. The curtains were drawn, and the house was quiet. There was no sign of movent, which was good.
The last thing I wanted was for her to get cranky about seeing a guy.
Just as I stepped closer, Javelin’s voice echoed softly in my mind. "She saw. But not who."
I released a slow breath and opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat. "Good morning," I greeted, trying to sound normal, even though several questions ford in my head.
How did he know where I stayed? Did he track down, stalk , or was my information already on a platter before him?
I went with the last option. Xade smiled faintly and pulled away from the curb without another word.
The drive was quiet and thankfully, not awkward. I watched the city blur past, my fingers twisting together in my lap.
When we arrived at school, he parked near the gate and waited for when to alight.
"Have a good day, little rabbit," he said simply.
I nodded. "You too."
His gaze lingered on for a second longer than necessary before I stepped out. As I shut the door, sothing warm settled in my chest.
That warmth didn’t last long, though, because the next second, whispers followed the mont I stepped onto campus.
"That’s a different car again."
"Another guy?"
"She’s collecting them at this point."
"I wonder what the Alpha Triplet would say to this that their mate is a whore."
My head snapped in the direction of the voice that comnted last. My eyes narrowed in on the bunch of gossip mongers huddled together.
Rather than speak, I put on my shades, shook my hair, kept my head high and walked forward.
"Ignore them," Javelin murmured. "They’re loud because they’re curious."
"More like jealous, if you ask ," I replied.
Inside, Isadora caught up with almost imdiately. "Hey girl, morning."
"Morning, Isa. What’s up?"
"I’m alive. At least none of your brooding mates killed yet."
My lips pulled back in a half smile. "Funny."
She returned my smile as she placed her books in her locker. "Okay, first of all, you look... calr," she noted without sparing a glance. "Secondly, did you hear about the schedule change?"
"Schedule change? No," I replied.
"Our Physics lecturer is out. We’re doing Advanced Combat Training instead."
I groaned. "You’re joking."
"I wish. Co on. We do not want to be late. Our trainer isn’t one for tardiness."
I groaned as we headed straight for the girls’ locker room, changed into our sparring gear, and joined the rest of the class in the training hall.
I hadn’t seen Ms. Rowan in a month. And judging from the fact that I wasn’t called or scolded by her, I was sure my mates had let it slide.
That action simply put them in my good graces.
The atmosphere was charged. Weapons lined the walls. Mats covered the floor. And standing at the front—arms crossed, posture relaxed but alert...was Xander.
And the calm I’d woken up with vanished.
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